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Blizzard: New trial will "build and sustain" World of Warcraft

Mega MMO World of Warcraft was down 600k subscriptions according to its last financial report, but that was before Cataclysm "launched in China."

Also the Blizzard MMO is "launching in Brazil this year" and the studio has "great expectations" for the South American market. It isn't waning.

Blizzard's last fiscal report had 11.4 million subscribers for World of Warcraft, which is down from 2010's higher 12 million milestone. This isn't a sign it's losing ground though argues VP and MD of Blizzard international, Michael Ryder.

“There’s a lot of great things happening with Warcraft,” he said. Those 'great things' involve growing their presence in China which offers the greatest MMO market in the world. It's also starting up in Brazil and they've introduced their new trial account system.

“We are launching in Brazil this year and we have great expectations for that. The numbers you might be looking at from the end of the last quarter, that was before Cataclysm launched in China. That is a big part of our business going forward," continued Ryder.

"We also changed the trial mechanism for World of Warcraft, so people trying it can now play in an unlimited way up to level 20. In the past it was time-based." The old system let you try the game for two weeks which is hardly enough time to get to grips with WoW.

"Our data shows when people get to level 20 they’re more likely to stay on, as they have got over that initial learning curve. That will help us build and sustain our player base.” Blizzard is of course developing an all-new MMO codenamed 'Titan'.